NBA Championship

The NBA Championship remains the highest honor in professional basketball. Every player’s dream revolves around lifting this coveted trophy, the reward for a season defined by relentless effort, discipline, and teamwork.

Teams earn their playoff seeding through their regular-season performance, and from there, a demanding playoff system decides the champion. Each postseason series follows a best-of-seven format, where the first team to win four games advances to the next round.

The journey reaches its pinnacle with the NBA Finals, where the Western Conference champion faces the Eastern Conference champion in a battle for basketball immortality. The victorious team is crowned NBA Champion and receives the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a symbol of excellence and perseverance.

Beyond the team accolade, each player and staff member is awarded a championship ring — an intricate piece of craftsmanship often set with precious stones and personalized details. These rings embody the sweat, sacrifice, and triumph of an entire season, serving as lasting symbols of pride and achievement.

Two franchises stand unrivaled at the summit of NBA history. The Boston Celtics now hold the outright record with 18 NBA championships, while the Los Angeles Lakers follow closely with 17 titles, marking both as enduring giants of the league.

The Lakers’ success stretches across generations, securing championships in multiple eras, from the Showtime dynasty of the 1980s to their most recent triumph in the 2019-20 season. Few teams have maintained such a consistent presence in the Finals over the decades.

The Celtics’ dominance, meanwhile, began earlier. Their first championship came in 1957, during Bill Russell’s rookie season, and what followed was an era unlike any other: eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966, a record that still stands today.

Rounding out the top three are the Golden State Warriors, boasting seven championships, earned across eras from the 1940s Philadelphia Warriors to the modern Stephen Curry dynasty.

The NBA Playoffs typically begin in mid-April, following the conclusion of the regular season. The journey culminates in the NBA Finals, held in June, where the two conference champions compete in a best-of-seven series to determine the league’s ultimate winner.

For fans hoping to experience the postseason atmosphere firsthand, tickets usually become available in late March or early April, though the exact timing varies by team and venue. Early buyers often have the best chance to secure seats before demand peaks.

From spring’s arrival to summer’s approach, this period delivers some of basketball’s most thrilling and unforgettable moments.